House Fails to Block Funding for Libyan Campaign

By a vote of 238 – 180, the House rejected H. R. 2278, which would have limited Defense Department funding for the NATO Operation Unified Protector in Libya to only search and rescue, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, and operational planning. In effect, the President may still have funding for bombing missions, and technically, the use of ground troops in Libya.

The bipartisan voting was mixed, though the majority of Republicans (144) voted for the limitation on the use of funds, while the majority of Democrats (149) were opposed to limiting the funding.